Saturday, September 17, 2016

Times Racist Past: the Mexican Greaser and the Orphan Kidnappings

As between the Anglo-Saxon hoodlum and the Mexican "greaser" who to so large an extent compose the citizenship of Arizona, and contend between themselves for the control of its destinies when it is admitted to statehood...we dislike to be forced to a choice.... Since no bones were broken their experience is not to be deplored if it has taught them [the Sisters of Charity] to abstain in the future from handing over American foundlings to be reared in Mexican homes.
-- Foundlings in Arizona, NY Times, 11/6/1904

See Linda Gordon's The Great Arizona Orphan Abduction for the details on this racist, anti-Catholic episode from America's past, when Arizona vigilantes kidnapped New York orphans before the Sisters of Charity could place them in the prosperous homes of Mexican miners.

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